By james art 
As a professor at Florida State University, a Talahassi resident and the father of a BSS student, I was deeply disturbed by the recent events in College Town, where officers at the Talahasi Police Department were filmed in video how they obviously shoot hot peppers celebrating rarely rare Snow day.
The incident that shows how a police officer seems to go directly to students who seem to just stand and look a few steps on the sidewalk, raises serious questions about the appropriate use of force and public safety protocols.
TPD claims his answer was triggered by students throwing ice balls (snowballs); However, their decision to escalate the situation by arranging weapons created a much more dangerous situation than the one they were trying to cope with.
When the police fired hot peppers in a group of students, they created a dangerous situation where people had to run on already dangerous icy surfaces. The combination of slippery conditions and panic has created the perfect storm for serious injuries.
Moreover, the impact of pepper balls carries risks, especially when they are fired at close range or when hitting in sensitive areas. The disorienting effect of the hot spray makes it particularly dangerous for the affected persons safe movement in icy conditions.
The consequences for public safety extend far beyond the immediate physical risks. Creating a panic in a crowded place inherently increases the risk of tingling incidents, while forcing students to scatter quickly can drive them out into the street or in other dangerous areas.
Chemical irritants from the peppers do not distinguish between targets and passers -by, creating additional dangers in a dense urban environment. For people with respiratory diseases, exposure to these chemical agents can cause serious medical emergencies.
Such aggressive reactions seriously damage the student-politics and politics community and undermine the confidence necessary for effective law enforcement. When students witness this type of reaction to them, when they play with snow, it becomes less likely to cooperate with the police in situations where this cooperation can be crucial to public safety. The incident creates unnecessary tension between the university community and the local law enforcement authorities, potentially undermining their sense of safety in their own community.
It was not a surprising snowfall. It is also not surprising that every street in Talahasi was full of people who fight snowballs, build snowy people and enjoy an opportunity that happens once in life.
The snow in Talahasi is an extremely rare event that attracts people outside to celebrate. The law enforcement agencies had to predict this and prepare appropriate strategies for the management of the crowd that did not include weapons. Better yet, instead of looking at the gathering as a threat that needed to be controlled, they could approach it as an event to build a community that should be managed safely.
This incident should cause a thorough review of the TPD crowd control protocols, especially for non -violent gatherings. Increased training in community’s de -escalation techniques is essential. The Talahasi apartment should feel safe in order to have fun in its community without fear that the police will resort to unnecessary force.
The incident at College Town should catalyze the improvement in the way law enforcement agencies interact with our student population and Talahassi residents.
Talahasi residents and guests deserve to feel secure in our community and law enforcement authorities are responsible for maintaining this safety through measured and appropriate reactions. The launch of hot peppers on students enjoying a snowy day does not meet this standard and requires accountability and a significant change in the approach.
Mark McNees is a professor at the BSS College of Entrepreneurship, BSS, a futurist, a major lecturer and a preacher for the use of business as a force for good. Please do not hesitate to contact Mark in X @markmcnees.
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